Streamcurrent apparatus for handling materials



March 15, 1949. G. A. AUER 2,464,478

STREAMCURRENT APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MATERIALS I Filed June 6, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (Ill i i? i 37 fl 40 1/ A 6:20:96 Que w M Q M G. A. AUER March 15, 1949.

STREAMCURRENT APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MATERIALS 2 Sheeis-Sheet 2 Filed- June 6', 1945 Y INVENTOR Geo 6 Q. @673 BY Patented Mar. 15, 1949 nmrso STATES $464,473

s'rasAMoURRENT APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MATERIALS Geor e A. Alter, Chicago, a ueationaune-s, 1945;?Serial No. 597,839 35 Claims. (01. 25974915,)

1 Thisinvention is concerned with streamcnrrent apparatus for handling materials. The term handling refers to operations such, for example, as noted in Patents Nos. 2,386,419

and 2,391,853, inoiuoling mixing, blending, .emulsi- A trying, homogenizing, sustaining or maintaining of materials, and also refers vto the separationlof materials.

'The terms fimaterial and imaterials are intended to mean substances, e. at, such as mentioned in the above noted patents, includi ngigasolines, petroleum products, oils, numerous dispersions, solutions, liquids, emulsions, composite and artificial pro-ducts; inthe case of separatingmatei'ialsthe terms are intended to include coal and ore particles which are to 'be concentrated or separated from a liquid-separating medium in accordance with their specific gravities.

The lterm streamcurrent is defined in the above-mentioned patents. It refers to the-control of a fluid or liquid body in motion for the purpose of pro icing controlled-agitation in the=presen-c e of which fluid and solid particles will exhibita substantially predictable behavior.

The new apparatus may be of the general type disclosed in "the nrevicusly mentioned Patent No, 2,386,419, with improvements which enhance and extend its utility. It comprises a feed orinjection device forming a plurality of feed or supply conduits and a first passageway or turbulence mixing chamber, "a second passageway or streamcurrent-chambcr,means for i'eeding materialinto first assagewayfor discharge directly arrd immediately into said strearncurrent chamber, and nieansfor selectively and adjustably feedingmateri 1 into said supply conduits for turbuIentdischarge into said first passageway, turbulent irrational intermixture therein and subsequent discharge therefrom into the stream'current chamber in whichthe turbulently and irrationally intermixed material is subjected to rational final intermixture in thepresence of rational agitation. Therational agitation is controlled by flow-distributing means so constructedand arrangedtha't the irrationally intermixedfluid material 'body is displaced symmetrically upwardly and "laterally outwardly with upwardly diminishing magnitude substantially without producing irrational turbulence. Valve controlled outflow ports are nroyided for selectively draining -ma'terial from the fluid body in the streamcurrent ohamber at vertically superposed levels thereof.

The secondpassageway may be properly termed alistreamcurrent;separatingzichamber or compartment when the apparatus is{elnplOYBdifOR-Sfipflr in mat i s at th ni mix n b end n rl k p ses-H v a The previously mentioned patents may -k ,e con suited ;for antecedents, general principles and th re a Considerations which apply in he present case. r I y Details will appear .from the ifollowingldescltiption which is rendered with reference :to the accompanying drawings showing some embodimentsgof the invention. Inthese drawings, 7

Figxl ;is a diagrammatic sectional vview of an apparatus made .in accordance with ,the invenion; a

Fig. 2 shows, on :an enlarged scale, :-part :of the feeder injectionideviice ofxthe structure, J1;

lFig. 23i1lustratesiindiagrammatic top plan view another embodiment Fig. 14 represents. a longitudinallsectionithrou'gh the structure Fig. 3 along lines i i-4. thereof;

Fig. 5 shows a transverse section through the feeder injectionl device al'ong:1ines;5'15 in Fig. 4; and i 'Iiigrfi is a diagram showing another embo'dimerit-of the invention.

-"The;drawings:are not tosc'ale. The embodiments Jareshown inea'.schematictmanner and the proportions of some parts ;are -distorfiedat the EXpBnSeiOf :other 'partsso as: to bring out d'et'ails more nl'early than wouldltotherwise be possible? *Thez'stnucture:shown in Fi'g. '1' int-full lines comprises a--CiI.G1l1a1'- tank-having a cylindrical upber section H and an inwardly and downwardly e'iitending section Fl 2. :Within this tank is disposed ama-rtition'or flow-distributing wall l3 'wlii'o lris made "in-the shape of anfinveirted cone. ""Ihis flow-distributing wall i provided with outflow ports at vertically superposed'l'evels"thereof; The bottom section o f-the flowfdistributing wanes joined with "the bottom "section 15 or the outer tank wail l2 and' forms an inletw'ell for' th introduc'tion of the material' which is to besubi ected to treatment. ilfhe flowgdistributingwall "l 3forms the bottom or floor oi the seems passageway in stream curren'tchamber} I 6 of the machine." I

"Partitions?! 7 18+! a e pressed, forming withthe outer tank wall fldischarge Qhanibis 2 22;23 2 4 25. "These chambers tie rosided. with valved outlet'coriduits w Z93ll terminating in the pipe 3!. The wa l2 may be omitted, if desiredI "anfd the ;"c lischarge chambers may-be formed by suitable mar Ids, one for eaolrlevelo'i-the fluidbody' in'tlie streamcurrentchamber '16.

*fThe :recessed bottom: i5. :ofathei tank. wall it: 'is pIOVidBdgWith J8 fitting; 32 WhiQh 1S in-fiuid-tight connection with the tank and is internally threaded for the tubular threaded member 33. The latter extends upwardly into the tank and carries a head 34. As will be seen later on, this head operates as a flow control member and as a centering and supporting member for the feed and injection device formed by coaxial tubes extending downwardly into the tank. The tubular member 33 is operable from the outside by suitable means, for example, a hand-wheel or knob 35. Therefore, the supporting centering and flow control head 34 can be moved up and down within certain limits toward and away from the inlet well M. In case of large structures which are sunk in the ground, the adjusting member 35 may be operated by remote control in any one of several known and approved ways. The member 34 may also be resiliently mounted; e. g., it may be upwardly biased by sprin pressure so as to provide an elastic centering support for the feed and injection device. The arrangement which is to be used will very much depend on the size and purpose of the unit.

The machine is provided with a cover or lid 36 carrying a peripheral downwardly depending cylindrical bafile or insert partition 31 and a centrally disposed downwardly depending cylindrical baffie or insert partition 36. The insert 31 forms with the wall H of the tank a peripheral top chamber 39 which communicates with the passageway or streamcurrent chamber I6 through the annular space 46. The insert 38 forms with the centrally disposed downwardly extending feed and injection device a chamber 4| which communicates with the streamcurrent chamber l6 through the annular space ll. The inserts 3'! and 38 are schematicall shown as being attached to the cover only for the sake of convenience. They may be secured in any desired and suitable manner.

The peripheral top chamber 39 formed b the insert 31 is provided with a pipe 43 connected with the valve 44, and the latter communicates with the pipe 3|. The chamber 4! is provided with a pipe 45 which communicates with the valve 46 and the latter also connects with the conduit 3|. Several pipes such as 43 and 35 may be provided for the corresponding annular chambers 39 and M and may be suitably distributed at desired angular intervals in accordance with the size of the unit and the needs of the material to be handled. The annular inlets 45 and 42 may be arranged as shown, or either of these inlets may be extended downwardly or upwardly as desired. The pipes 43 and 45 serve the purpose of withdrawing material from the chambers 39 and 4|, as may be desired or required, for any given condition. The pipe 45 is schematically shown as extending through the cover 35 across the annular space between the inserts 3'! and 38 merely for convenience of description because all equipment is represented in the drawing in one radial plane. In a working structure, the pipe 45 ma enter the chamber 4| from the top through the fitting 56. Pipes similar to those shown at 43, 45 connect with the valved inlets H8, H9, for re-injecting material into the chambers 39 and 4| for entrainment with the fluid material body within the chamber [6.

A float, as described in the previousl noted Patent No. 2,386,419, may be provided for the control of a suitable vent valve to allow for the controlled escape of gases. Pressure and temperature control means may be provided if desired or necessary and wherever needed.

On top of the cover 36, centrally thereof, is disposed a tubular cross-sectionally U-shaped fitting 55. This fitting may support all the centrally disposed parts, includin the feed and injection device and the insert 38, and may be mounted on the cover as a sub-unit. The fitting 50 carries an annular ring-like member 5| which extends radially inwardly and. is disposed in an assembled cross-sectionally U-shaped journal 52. This journal is in rotatable engagement with the fixed ring-shaped member 5! through the medium of suitable glands or washers 5354 which may be made of any suitable material. Roller bearings and any other suitable and approved journal structure may be substituted. The journal assembly is made fluid-tight and, if necessary, pressure-tight, in any desired and approved manner.

Attached to the assembled U-shaped journal 52 by means of the flange 56 is the downwardly depending pipe 55. The flange 56 is also attached to the hub 51 of an operating member shown in the form of a hand-wheel 58. Therefore, the hub 5'5 of the hand-wheel 58 is attached through the medium of the pipe flange 56 to the crosssectionally U-shaped rotatable journal 52, and when the hand-wheel is rotated it will rotate the pipe around the stationary centrally disposed pipe 60. The stationary pipe 60 and the pipe 55, which is rotatable around it, are shown to be of larger diameter on top. The sections of these pipes, which may be of different diameter, may be suitably assembled or joined. Keyed to the centrally disposed stationary pipe 60 above the hub of the hand-wheel is a member 6| having a flange 62 which maintains the journal assembly of the rotatably mounted pipe 55 by engagement with the hub 51 of the hand-wheel. The connection may be made fiuidand, if necessary, pressure-tight by means of a suitable labyrinth gland, including packed annular grooves, as diagrammatically indicated in the drawing. The flange 62 may be provided with suitable index marks coacting with index marks on the hub 51 of the hand-wheel 58 so as to indicate the angular displacement of the hand-wheel and therewith of the pipe 55 relative to the stationary pipe 60. The stationary pipe 50 constitutes a feed or supply conduit.

Suitably attached to the rotatable pipe 55 is a pipe 65 which extends downwardly concentric with the pipe 55, but spaced therefrom, the resulting annular space being indicated by numeral 10.

Both the pipe 55 and the pipe 65 are thus rotatable by means of the hand-wheel. A hand-wheel is shown for the sake of convenience. In large structures the adjustment may be made by remote control in an desirable and suitable manner. The space it constitutes the first passageway of the structure. When supplied with material from the feed or supply conduit 60 and/or from the sup-ply conduit 13, which will be presently described, it constitutes the turbulence mixing chamber of the machine.

Attached to the centrally disposed stationary pipe 50 near the top thereof is a casting or fitting 66 supported in a central position by legs or brackets 67. The latter are attached to the tank cover, as shown. On top of the pipe 60 is disposed an inlet fitting or casting 69, and connected with this fitting are the inlet pipes 84 and I06. Material to be treated may be injected into the feed or supply conduit 66 directly from the inlet 86 or may be injected thereinto for re-circulation through the pipe I06.

"The pipe 60 extends downwardly within the rotatable "pipe 55 'andc'arries at its bottom a plug 68 which engages a recess in the flow control, centering and' 'suppor-ting 'head '34. The arrangemerit is particularly apparent from .Fig. 2. Upward-adjustment .of the head 34 by means of the knob 35., :or equivalent means, thus centers the pipe 60 at its lowerendand also furnishes a suppnrtfor the pipe. The pipe Gil carries at its lower end a suitable bearing iiiia rfor ro-tatably jourates in the nature of a valve for adjusting the outflow from the pipe 60 through these ports into the first passageway or turbulence mixing chamber 1B. The adjustment is made by :means of vthe hand-wheel .58 or by equivalent means. Material can thus be injected into the passageway-.10 in radially directed :streams of adjustable magnitude or intensity entering the passageway in a plurality of levels. The number of ports in each level will depend on the size of the pipes 55 and .60. Leakage radiallyaround the solid sectors of .the conduit 60 in the various levels can be neglected in the practical operation-of the structlirle. The arrangement comprising the stationary central feed pipe or supply conduit (in and the rotatable valve pipe 55 is in certain respects similar to PatentNo. 2,386,419.

[Around the above described structure is disposeda stationary pipe J l andan outer-stationary pipe '12 forming an annular feed space or supply conduit '13. The pipes ll-1.2 are .suitably attached at the top of the structure. They may bepart ofl'the cover 36 anddepending therefrom, as shown, or they may .form a separate sub-assembly, together with the other coaxial pipes as desired and as previously intimated. The pipes 11 depend downwardly concentric with the remaining pipes and are provided at the bottom with an annular ring-like member 14 which opera'tes in the nature of a plug. The outer pipe assembly forming the annular .feed space or supmy conduit '13 is centered at the bottom by a ringilik'e niember "15 which is supported on suitable legs .76. Numeral Ha (Fig. 2) indicates a suitableb'earingcarriedbythe pipe "H at its'lower end for 'rot'atab'ly journalling the lower end of the rotatable pipe 65. The bottom end of the feed' e nd injection .or inlet device comprising the various'coaxial pipes is shown of cross-sectionally angular configuration. It may, of course, be s'uitablyrounded in order'to assist the hydraulic "'ispla cement of the fluid mass in the chamber #6 in-accordance with thefiow lines.

"The "stationary pi e "H and the rotatable pipe 65 poacting therewith are both provided with upwardlyinclined ports which maybe brought into .angnmemt proper angular adjustment of the rctatable'pipe65 in a similarmanner as the ports in the central pipetll may be brought into align- 'nie'rit with the "ports in the rotatable coacting ya' lve pipe'55.

-f.suit able"spider "washers may be provided at, yeracany spaced intervals, within the passage way "Hi "f ormedby'therotatable valve pipes'55.

6 spaced and centered. Such washers are, cf course, perforated in order 'to permit the fiOWDf material through thepassageway Ill.

Assuming now that material is injected into either or both of the feed or supply conduits lii and 66, such material will flow radially inwardly into the first passageway or mixing chamber PHI. In other words, the material is emitted from the supply conduits 60 and T3 inwardly, in opposing adjustable jets, into the passageway or mixing chamber 10 which separates the rotatable valve pipes 55 and "65. The radial injection effects turbulence by collision and thus irrational intimate intermixture of the materials. The intensity or force of the jets is adjustable by the valve pipes 55 and 65 and by pressure injection of the materials. A stream of material may also be injected directly into the passageway "H! for mtermixture with the materials injected thereinto from the conduits 60 and 73. I

Three inlets 85], 8!, 82 are shown at the'topel' the structure. These inlets may be connected with separate material holders or may feed material from one and the same source, e. g., aitarik which receives the initial material components for subsequent intermixture and blending in the machine shown'in Fig. 1. The inlet connects over a valve 83 with the pipe 84, terminating in the fitting 69 which is joined with the pipe 60. Material can thus be adjustably injected through the inlet 8i! into the centrallydisposed stationary feed pipe or supply conduit 60. The inlet 8! conneots over a valve 85 with pipe 86 terminating in the space 81 formed by the cross-section'ally U-shaped fitting 56 which communicates with the passageway Til. Material can thus be adjustably injected through the illustrated communicating openings into the first passageway or mixing chamber iii. Inlet conduit 82 connects over "a valve 88 with pipe 89 for adjustably'feeding niaterial into the supply conduit 13 formed by the stationary pipes H and i2. Pipes 106, I08, *l l-ll terminate similarly as pipes 84, 86, 89. Theyare provided. for the purpose of re-circulating material from pipe led into the feed and supply conduits 55, i3 and into the passagewayor mixing chamber ill, respectively. The inlets80, 8l 82 also connect with the pipe 3! by way of valved connecting pipes diagrammatically indicated at 86a, 85a, 82a and 3m. These latter connections are provided for by-pass feeding of material from the inlets at, al, 82 by way'of-pipe 31 either to the outlet or by way of pipe NH and pump Inn, for injection through the pipes 106, I08, I ll), intothe feed and injectiondevice as described. I

An auxiliary inlet conduit is indicated in dotted lines all at the bottom of the figure, for feeding material, if desired, into the feed or'supply con duit til through theboring in the supportingand centering head 3d and thence-through the boring in the plug 68.

The partition or flow-distributing wall 13 is provided with ports-of upwardly increasing outflow capacity for draining material from the second passageway or streamcurrent chamber 16 into the discharge chambers or cells-2 l-"25. The material drained fromthe chamber 16 through these outlet ports collects in the cells 24- 2mm selective withdrawal through "the valved pipes 2t3il,'inclusive. Thesepipes-arc, of course,ait"- tached to the corresponding cells in such a manher that complete drainage can .be lefiected valved branch pipes 26a .30a .c'onnect withthe pipe branch H'la provided .in pipe ill. I These,

- ett mi es one Pe it o tr ll d wi hdraw 7 of material from the various cells directly to the outlet of the unit. Similar branch connections may be provided for the pipes 43, 45,

The additional equipment shown in the drawing comprising various valves and a pump is best described in connection with the operation of the structure.

The nature of the material or materials to be mixed, homogenized, emulsified or blended, or to be sustained and maintained, is known. The inlet capacity of the various conduits, that is, the magnitude of the inflowing streams of a given material through such conduits, under given feed conditions, is likewise known. The valve provisions, namely, the valves 55 and 65 coacting with the ports in the supply conduits 6t and '53, respectively, are suitably adjusted to the properties of the material to be handled and to the inflow thereof as well as in accordance with the results that are to be obtained. Several conditions are possible.

The. valves 55 and 65 may be adjusted so as to block the radial outflow ports of the supply conduits 60 and 13, respectively. Material may be injected through the inlet 8| for downflow through the first passageway iii and outflow directly into the second passageway or mixing chamber I6. The feed and injection device has in this case merely the function of an inlet and the material, e. g., a liquid, is subjected within the second passageway or chamber is to streamcurrent agitation which proceeds within the chamber l6 symmetrically upwardly and laterally outwardly with upwardly diminishing magnitude. The liquid leaves the streamcurrent chamber it through the outflow ports in the flow-distributing wall l3 in upwardly increasing amounts. A similar condition may also be produced in the structure shown in Patent No. 2,386,419.

It should be observed, however, that the present structure permits a controlled selectively adjustable withdrawal individually from the various levels of the fluid body in the streamcurrent chamber 16. Accordingly, the nature of the upfiow in this chamber and streamcurrent agitation or displacement resulting therefrom is adjustable. Adjustment may be such as to block the outflow from all but the top level of the flow-distributing wall [3. All the material emitted from the feed and injection device will thus be forced to travel to the top. Alternatively, the outflow from all but the bottom level may be blocked. The result will be bulk turbulence within the chamber l6. Adjustment may be provided for differential withdrawal from the various levels of the mixing chamber, or for symmetric upwardly adjustably increasing withdrawal, so as to produce true streamcurrent conditions substantially without causing irrational turbulence in the fluid body within the chamber Hi.

The valves 55 and 65 may also be adjusted for a desired radial outflow into the first passageway or mixing chamber 10, but material may be fed only from the inlet 80 into the supply conduit 60. The material in this case drops downwardly within the supply conduit 60 and flows in jets of desired intensity, according to the feed pressure and adjustment of the ports, radially outwardly into the first passageway or mixing chamber ill. The liquid then flows downwardly within the chamber 10' and out into the streamcurrent chamber IE exactly as in the first case, with the difference that, while the liquid passes from the supply conduit 60 into the mixing chamber 10, it is subjected to more or less intense turbulent agitation.

A similar operation results from adjustment of iii the valve tubes 55 and 65 as in the case just mentioned, but feeding material only through the inlet conduit 82 into the supply conduit 13. The material is in this case ejected radially inwardly through the ports in the pipe H in streams or jets of adjusted intensity accordingto the setting of the valve 65, thus subjecting it 'to agitation and turbulence within the first passageway or mixing chamber 15, and flows downwardly and out of this chamber into the second passageway or streamcurrent chamber [6 wherein the agitation is of a controlled nature as prev-' iously described, which may proceed symmetrically upwardly with upwardly diminishing magnitude as particularly disclosed in detail in Patent No. 2,386,419.

The auxiliary inlet 90 may or may not be provided, but if it is provided it may be used for injecting liquid from below into the central supply conduit 60 for intermixture with liquid injected into this conduit from the inlet or for intermixture with liquid injected into the first passageway or mixing chamber in from the supply conduit 13.

There are thus numerous adjustment possibilities and therefore possibilities for subjecting to treatment materials requiring agitation which may range from imperceptibly mild displacement to intense and even violent turbulence involving pressure and shearing forces. The material fed into the machine may be a composite liquid coming from several sources, for example, several oils or gasolines that have to be mixed. Alternatively, the material may be a suspension, dispersion or solution requiring blending or maintaining of homogeneity. Emulsions may be prepared by injecting desirable components into the first passageway or mixing chamber l0 and into the conduits 60 and 13, respectively, for turbulent intermixture within the passageway 10. Materials may be homogenized in like manner. Desirable degrees of turbulence may be produced. The injection and feed device may be provided with suitable heating or cooling jackets, if desired.

Assuming, for example, that it is desired to intermix four different grades of gasolines or oils, these four grades may be drained from separate holders through the inlets 30, 8!, 82 and 90, respectively. The valves 83, 85, 88 connecting with the conduits 84, 86, 89 are suitably adjusted. There is, of course, a valve provided in the conduit 90. The valve pipes 55 and 65 are properly adjusted in accordance with the intensity of turbulent agitation that is desired, and the various solutions or liquids are then simultaneously injected in desired amounts and with desired pressures. The result is more or less intense desired turbulent agitation within the first passageway or mixing chamber 10 by collision of the numerous jets or streams of liquid emitted from the supply conduits 6i) and T3 with the material flowing through the chamber M. The turbulent product leaving the feed and injection column is discharged downwardly into the second passageway or streamcurrent chamber 86 and is there subjected to the rational upward and outward displacement to effect the final intermixing, homogenizing or blending of the materials. Themore or less high state of agitation or ebullition of the turbulent material is gradually reduced as the liquid rises in the streamcurrent chamber [5.

chamber are substantially quiescent. H The above described operations may be carried out" as described or by the use of the pump I00. Valves 83, 85,..88 are for this purpose closed and inlets 80, 8|, 82 are connected with the pump by way of pipes 3| and NH. A valved branch conduit from pipe 90 to the pump may be provided for adding the component conducted through this pipe. The pump propels all the components to be mixed, coming from pipes 3i, 9E3 and I01, through the valve H32, pipes I03, I04, into the valved pipes IDS-I06, Hlllll8, lll9lll), thus effecting a certain degree of intermixing incident to the flow through the feed conduits 3|, It i, to and through the pump and thence to and through the conduits I03 and Hit. The mass is then divided again and is fed in adjusted amounts into the passageway 10 and into the supply conduits 60 and 13, respectively, for turbulent intermixture within the passageway 10 and discharge into the chamber I6, described. The fluid from pipe 90 may, or course, be injected directly instead of by the pump I00.

The blending, mixing, homogenizing, emulsifying; dispersing or other handling of some materials may require recirculation or turnover pumping which may be carried out by use of the pump I00. Adjusted amounts of material may be drained selectively separately from any of the chambers 39, 4| and 21-25, and may be fed to the pump by way of conduits ti and Bill and may then be returned to the feed and injection device by way of valve 102 and conduits lt3li i for reinjection selectively through any one or all of the inlets I06, I08, H6. For example, it is possible to withdraw material from one or more selected levels or chambers of the device and return it by way of pipes l05-Ill6 to the supply conduit 60; or the material may be returned to the first passageway or mixing chamber 16 by way of' pipes HIT-I08; the material may also be returned to the supply conduit 13 by way of pipes ment with maximum intensity and entraining agitation. Other materials may require only recirculation through the second passageway'qr streamcurrent chamber I6 by way'of the first passageway mainly for the purpose of gradually killing ebullition Adjusted amounts of material may be drained selectively individually from either or both of the chambers 39, 4! and from any one or all of the discharge chambers 2 l2,5 for discharge through the conduit l i I, by way of valve 5 if! to the outlet. The withdrawal of material may also be forced selectively from any one or all of these chambers or cells by the pumpthrough the valve M3 to the outlet. The amount of material to be drained from. each chamber may be determined in either case by proper valve setting. Draining of material for discharge from some of the chambers or cells and turnover pumping of material from other chambers or cells may he obtained by suitable valve settings. Turnover pumping from selected levels of the fluid material body in the stream-- current chamber iii. together with controlled discharge from some or, all of the levels may be practiced simultaneously with feeding fresh liquid into'the tank or afterthetank is completely filled 5, may be introduced through either or both of the supply conduits till, 73. Any other suitable and desirable feed procedure may be adopted within the possibilities of the machine. The gas, in such case, takes the place of a material component of the final product.

t should be observed that the structure can be drained completely, leaving only the film of erialthat will inevitably adhere to the tank walls. The streamcurreut agitation as described is operative and affects the entire material in the chamber it regardless of the amount of material which may be reposing in the chamber at any time.

The structure is also adapted to serve as a storage, tank for suspensions, dispersions, emulsions, solutions, blended liquids, and other materials which display a tendency to separate or deteriorate when subjected to quiescent condi-v tions. The required agitation is furnished purely as a lay-product of the injection and/or withdrawal of material without any mechanical agitating means. Turnover circulation maybe employed periodically, in case of storage, during prolonged intervals of inactivity, that is, when no material is normally added or withdrawn for use.

The new structure facilitates and accelerates: the handling of materials for numerous purposes, as compared with the operation of prior devices, cutting down the cost of operation, and renders the operations more certain and more effective. There are no moving parts or machinery that may get out of adjustment and cause expensive repairs or replacements. The initial cost of the apparatus will in most cases be less than the cost of orthodox equipment, and maintenance: costs will also be reduced.

Any desired condition of turbulence, agitation and hydraulic displacement may be produced substant ally with calculable certainty, because all factors required for calculating magnitude of pressure, turbulence forces and displacement of the materialat any point within the structure are known and can be adjusted at will to accommo date any given .set of requirements. Desired temperature condit ons may likewise be produced at any section of the structure by the provision of suitable heating or cooling means.

The outer tank I?! may be made cylindrical, as indicated in dotted lines marked by the numeral I The outer tank spaces, that is to say, the collect ng cells or discharge chambers such as 21-25, inclusive, will then, of course, be enlarged, as indicated by dotted lines lim?.ila showing the required partitions corresponding to partit ons Il -28. The structure is in such a case provided with an upwardly slo ing tank bottom I 5a which is joined with the bottom M of the flow control wal [3. as shown. The outlet conduits connecting with'the pipe 3! are suitably provided in accordance with the structure shown in the drawing and analogous thereto. The outlet conduits again are placed; so as to effect complete drainage from the various cells and chambers of the tank. r

The structure may be made square or polygonal; if desired. The flow control Wall l3 would, of

course, fol-low the general shape of the outer tank; e. g., it would be made in the form of an inverted pyramid. The feed and injection device can also be made cross-sectionally square or polygonal instead of being composed of cross-sectionally circular tubes. Sliding valves would in such case be used in place of the rotatable valves 55-65. The use of sliding valves in place of the rotatable valves is generally feasible also in the illustrated structure. The tubes 5565 may, for example, be mounted for vertical sliding displacement by suitable lever or cam control or by screw control generally as shown for the adjustment of the valve members I2I-I28 illustrated in Fig. 5.

The embodiment diagrammatically shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 comprises a feed and injection device which is disposed at one end of a generally rectangular tank structure I26. The device includes the end walls I2ll22 and the perforated strip-like side walls or inserts l23-I24 forming the first passageway 01' turbulence mixing chamber which tapers in downward direction and terminates in an opening I25 for direct and immediate discharge of material in turbulent condition into the second passageway or streamcurrent chamber I26. In back of the side walls I23-I24 are disposed valve members IZ'I-IZB. respectively, which may be adjusted by suitable means, e. g., screws I29I36, respectively. These valve members are perforated just like the side walls I23-I24 and the perforations may be adjusted for desired outflow of material into the first passageway or mixing chamber. The perforations in the side walls or strips I23I24 may be provided with spray nozzles, if desired. The valve members are slidably secured by means of suitable guides. One of such guides is indicated at the bottom of each valve member. Insert partitions I3II32 form walls of chambers I33I34 which constitute the supply conduits of the structure. The supply conduit I33 receives material from the inlet I65 and the supply conduit I34 receives material from the inlet I36. The first passageway or turbulence mixing chamber receives material from theinlet I31 shown in the form of a hopper.

The second passageway or streamcurrent chamber comprises a floor or bottom formed by the sections I38-I39I40I4I-I42, constituting a flow control or flow-distributing wall corresponding to the perforated insert I3 in the previous embodiment. Numerals I 43I 44--I45-- I46 indicate ports for the outflow of material from the chamber I26 at vertically superposed levels, corresponding to the outflow ports in the flow-distributing wall of the first embodiment. Each port discharges into a separate collecting or discharge chamber or cell. Thus, the port I43 discharges into the cell I41; the port I44 discharges into cell I48; port I45 discharges into cell I49; and port I46 discharges into cell I56. Each cell is provided with a valved outlet, as particularly shown in Fig. 4. Numeral I5I indicates an overflow.

A suitable gate or valve, e. g., a slide gate, may be provided directly at each of the ports I 43- I46 instead of or in addition to the valves in the outlets from the cells receiving material from these ports. It should be noted that the bottom of each of the cells I4'I-I56 is dished so as to provide for complete drainage.

Additional flow control or flow-distributing bafiie members I52I53I54 are shown in Fig. 4. These members are omitted in the schematic drawing, Fig. 3. Each of these members is made til) . ture.

in the form of a preferably streamlined bar or strip rotatably mounted on a suitable shaft and extending transversely across the chamber I26 above the floor thereof. The shafts project to the outside and are adjustable by suitable means, for example, hand-wheels. Hand-wheel I55 is provided for angular adjustment of the flow control member I52; hand-wheel I56, for angular adjustment of the flow control member I53; and hand-wheel i551, for angular adjustment of the flow control member i5 1. Additional such flow control members may be provided if desired or necessary.

A. flow control partition indicated in dotted lines I58 may be provided in place of the flow control members I52-I54, or in addition thereto and disposed thereabove. This partition, if used, forms a roof over the flow-distributing bottom wall, and the upwardly inclined space defined thereb constitutes the streamcurrent chamber. The partition also forms the floor of an additional chamber which extends thereabove and which may be used as an additional turbulence mixing chamber adapted to discharge material into the streamcurrent chamber I26.

The first passageway or mixing chamber of the feed or injection device empties into the second passageway or streamcurrent chamber by way of the opening l25 which is controlled by a gate or valve I60. This valve is operable by a shaft I6I which is adjustable by means of a hand- Wheel such, for example, as indicated at I62.v

Gates or valves shown in dotted lines at E2211 may be provided in the end wall l22 of the first passageway or mixing chamber for discharge of material from selected levels of this passageway into the streamcurrent chamber. These valves may be mounted just like the valve I66 and operated by suitable levers or hand-wheels, or may be sliding valves and operated either from the side or from the top of the structure,

The operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 3-5 may be substantially exactly like the operation described in connection with the structure Figs. 1 and 2, except that the first and second passageways or mixing chambers of the machine illustrated in Figs. 35 are open at the top and are operated under atmospheric pressure, whereas the corresponding passageways of the machine shown in the previously discussed drawings are closed to the atmosphere.

An operation cycle may be briefly described, assuming that it is desired to blend three different kinds of materials to form a desired mix- One of the components is injected into the hopper I37 for downflow through the first passageway or turbulence mixing chamber. The material flows downwardly through the chute-like passageway toward the opening I26 and into the second passageway or streamcurrent chamber in accordance with the setting of the valve or gate I60. Other components may be injected through the conduits I--l36, respectively, for upflow in the feed or supply conduits I 33-434. These components then flow through the ports in the valve members I21-I'28 and through the ports and, if desired, through nozzlers in the associated inserts or side walls I23I24, in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 5, for intermixture with the downwardly flowing material coming from above. Turbulence is produced by this action and agglomerates are broken up and agglomeration is prevented. The intensity of the jets, sprays or streams injected into the first passagee way or, mixing chamber through the openings in its side walls may be regulated by the pressure with: which the" material is injectedathroughsthe.

inlets ;l35-l36 and by properly settingthetyalvemembers I21, 128, to adjust the sizeoftheports aSxdeSired. Adjustable inlet ports corresponding toz-th'e ports in the walls l23-l24 may also be provided in. the end walls l2l'-,-,l- 2Z, of the passageway.

The turbulently intermixed material flows through the properly adjusted inlet gateqopening,

I25 into the stream current chamber of. the: ap-

paratus, and then flows from the inlet; opening broad aspects, identical with the operation of. the

embodiment previously described with reference. to-Figs. 1 and 2.

Pipe and valve connections may be provided in conjunction with the apparatus Figs. 3-5 generally analogous to the pipe and valve meansshown in Fig. 1. It is understood, of course, that themachine shown in Figs. 3-5 may be made flu-idand pressure-tight and operated justlike thefirst described embodiment simply by providing suitable covers for the two serially related passageways or mixing chambers, and connect-- ing. the necessary conduits thereto.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 3-5, when compared with the embodiment shown. in Fig, 1 indicates the versatility and adaptability of the invention to structural modifications. The. functional adaptability, that is to say, the possibility to use. the invention in a great number of basic operations such as mixing, blending, etc.,. etc., hasalrgeady been. discussed. It will nowbe shown that the invention may also be usefullyv applied inthe separation of materials.

This statement may at first seem. surprising.

because the concept of separating would seem .to be, in conflict with the idea of sustaining amixture such, for example, as a coal-oil suspension. Thereis, however, nothing incompatible about thetwo concepts because they have basic common features. At the basis of each is the eon.- cept of mixing. Before a suspension can, be sustained it must be mixed, that is, thesolids must be, uniformly dispersed or distributed in the. liquid phase; and'before a separation of solid particles in accordance with their specific gravities can. be accomplished in a fluid separating medium, such particles must be intermixed with thev medium, i. e., they must be distributed or dis.- persed in, the medium. Therefore, a separator. for example. hydraulic separator, may be consifdered in the light of a mixer.

Theseparati'on will be successful in the meas ure; in. which uniform dispersion or distribution of, any given particlesean be accomplished in a fl'uidimedium. The present inventionisadapted to. furnish uniform distribution of solids in a liquid, and this feature may therefore beapplied imthe solu tion'of the problem of dispersing-solids ima. liquid preparatory to or incident tosepara tionfrom. the liquid,

In, maintaining or sustaining a product such; for example, .asa coaloil suspension, the; probproblem, namely, separating fromthe liquidinee,

di'um solid particles of differentsizes andlorspee cific gravities.

The separationof such particles willbe SIJC'rcessful in the measure in which organized stati fication can be accomplished. It will be clear' that the turbulence of the liquid separating medium has a vital bearing on the subject. Organized statification is impossible in the presence of irrational unpredictable turbulence, and such.

, turbulence is in conflictwith and impedes stratification and therefore separation.

The new structure is adapted to displace.a,liquid body hydraulically with upwardly diminishing magnitude and substantially without creat ving irrational turbulence. This feature may be.

utilized for separation. In the presence of such, hydraulic displacement heavy particles will ob- -e viously tend to organize near the bottom, and, light particles will float toward the top.

It will thus be seen that the basic theoretica ly requirements for separation of materials are. identical with those for mixing and sustaining or. maintaining or blending of suspensions. Certain features of an apparatus adapted to satisfythev. lattercan therefore be sensibly adopted to meet the former.

Keeping the above remarks in mind, it willv be... easy to understand the operation of the machine shown in Figs. 3-5 when used as aseparator.

It may be assumed, for example, that coal'ofa, certain specific gravity, say 1.35, is to be. sep-v arated from heavier impurities and that the size:

or the largest particles is less than e. g., that,

the particle size of the raw feedis A x 0' or even. smaller.

The raw feed is introduced into the. hopper. l3! and drops downwardly in the first passageway or turbulence mixing chamber. An agitating medium. which may be air of water or both, is introduced through the inlets l35-I36 for upflow in. the supply conduits l'33-|34 and outflow in iets,., streams or sprays into the passageway in the] path of the downfiowing raw feed. Turbulent mixing agitation of a desired intensity is thus produced in the first passageway or mixing chamber as described before, to break up agglomerates, to prevent agglomeration, and to produce thorough intermixing and dispersing, of the solidll particles in the liquid.

Previously known separators, generally. and broadly speaking. do the same thing as described in the preceding paragraph. The raw feed is: drop ed into. a tank containing a. liquid medium and liquid currents or air currents (which may be employed in the present structure) are iniected into the body of the liquid medium producing, turbulence and hydraulic displacement. Agitation is, in addition, produced by mechanical means, e. g., rotating paddles, propellers or the}, like.

As pointed out in the previously mentioned patents. co-pending and as noted before. such agitation causes irrational and unpredictable. turbulence, producing drawbacks which impede proper uniform distribution or dispersal of the.

solids, in a liquid. The requirement of.produc "conflicts with the separation of. the; partiglaf from the liquid because it impedes the organized stratification of the particles. The industry is in this respect in a dilemma. Agitation must be applied to disperse and to distribute the particles, and'the degree of agitation that would be desirable'to obtain uniform distribution causes such turbulence that stratification and cleancut separation are made impossible. The detriment becomes particularly manifest when it is attempted to separate solids of relatively small particle size. There is no hydraulic separator known at the present time which is adapted to produce entirely satisfactory separation, e. g., of coal of a particle size ranging from less than /2 to and especially small size material ranging from /1" to 0 or smaller. The invention .is intended to contribute toward remedying this shortcoming.

One of the characteristic features which distinguishes the present invention, when used for the separation of materials, from the prior art, resides in dispersing and substantially uniformly distributing the solid particles in a fluid medium, by the application and use of irrational agitation, in a first passageway or mixing chamber, where irrational turbulence resulting there from cannot conflict with the separation, and carrying out the separation of the particles in accordance with the specific gravities thereof, by the application of controlled hydraulic displacement of the fluid body containing the particles thus dispersed therein, in a second passageway or separating chamber, upwardly and symmetrically laterally outwardly, with upwardly diminishing magnitude, to accomplish organized stratification and separation substantially in the absence of irrational turbulence. The prior art, in contradistinction, attempts to accomplish dispersion of the particles and separation thereof at the same time; that is, it attempts to accomplish separation in the presence of irrational and unpredictable turbulence.

The intermixed turbulent material leaves the first passageway or mixing chamber through the gate opening I25, and the fluid body, forming in the strearncurrent chamber is continuously rationally displaced symmetrically upwardly and with upwardly diminishing magnitude or intensity.

It will be clear that in the presence of such solely hydraulic displacement the solids in the liquidwill stratify in accordance with their specific gravities and/ or sizes, the heaviest or largest components remaining near the bottom and the lightest or smallest floating toward the top.

An inspection of the drawing, Fig. 4, will explain the behavior of the material. The intermixed turbulent mass consisting of the liquid separating medium and the solids dispersed therein leaves the feed and injection device in downward direction with a force which, in an open structure such as shown, will depend on the hydrostatic head therein, or rather to say, on the amount of liquid injected thereinto to supply the quantities of liquid withdrawn from the separating chamber.

Stratification is initiated within the first passageway or turbulence mixing chamber of the fed column by the hydraulic displacement caused by the action of the liquid currents issuing from the ports in the side walls as described. Assuming the valve or gate I60 to be suitably adjusted and, the gates I22a closed, the mass of material is deflectedat the bottom of the feed column in the direction of the prominent arrows. There is an upward component tending to lift the material generally in the direction of the flow control member I52. to remain near and at the bottom, moving toward the outflow port I43, and the lighter particles are lifted up. From then on the displacement of the mass continues, substantially without irrational turbulence, upwardly and laterally outwardly with upwardly diminishing intensity, along the flow-distributing wall or floor, sweeping toward the overflow' I5I. The organized stratification persists, the heavier particles moving along at and near the bottom of the stream and the progressively lighter particles at and near its top layer. Liquid containing particles of upwardly progressively lighter specific gravities may be removed through the ports I44I46. The lightest particles may be discharged at the overflow I5I.

The organized stratification within the upwardly and outwardly moving stream may be assisted,

- if desired, by the injection of fluid or air currents sectionally through the floor plates I38-I42. These plates may be perforated for this purpose, and each may carry a hood at the bottom side, as indicated at I'ifl, which is connected with a suitable fluid or air supply. The supply of fluid to the hoods may be uniform or may be in upwardly lessening amounts and/or pressure.

Irrational turbulence, which may become manifest in the form of eddies, is broken up by the flow control members such as I52-I54 and/or by the flow control partition or roof I58, if such partition is employed. Eddies that may be produced above the control members have no detrimental effect on the controlled material flow along the floor of the structure.

It is understood, of course, that sufficient liquid be added in the feed and injection device to maintain any desired flow of liquid through the separating chamber toward the overflow. Alternatively, make-up liquid may be added into the space above the partition I58, if such partition is used, for downflow and intermixture with the flow along the floor.

The streamcurrent motion of the material body is regulated and controlled by the shape of the separating chamber having the upwardly sloping floor and outwardly flaring side walls (see also Fig. 3) and by controlled withdrawal of material, i. e., liquid and solids contained therein, from the various levels of the separating chamber.

The gates IZZa may be used for selectively admitting turbulent material into the separating chamber either in conjunction with the bottom openin I25 or with this opening closed by the valve I58.

The use of a flow control partition such as indicated at I58 presents additional operating and control possibilities. The partition forms the roof of the streamcurrent chamber I26 disposed underneath, and thus forms the floor of an auxiliary mixing chamber disposed thereabove. Turbulent material may be injected into this auxiliary chamber from the first passageway selectively through the gates I22a for downflow into the streamcurrent separating chamber I26 through the space between the wall I22 and the lower left end of the partition I58. This space may be controlled by a suitable valve. The material may thus be agitated and roughly separated in stages, first within the passageway receiving the raw feed from the chute I37, and second within the auxiliary chamber above the partition I58. Mechanical agitating means may be used in either or both stages, as desired. The material which is fed to the auxiliary chamber through the gates I22a is The heaviest particles tend' coming from the auxiliary chamber will be mainly light material which is added to the flow at a higher level and continues toward its upwardly disposed discharge points.

Re-circulation of a product withdrawn from one or more of the various levels of the streamcurrent chamber I26 may be practiced in ac cordance with explanations furnished in connection with the description of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The liquid separating medium may be water, as described, or a suitable heavy density liquid, i. e., a liquid of a specific gravity heavier than water.

Each of the discharge chambers I 4T--I50 may terminate in a housing, if desired, and each such chute may enclose a suitable mechanical conveyor for removing the material deposited therein. The housings may be disposed in vertically and transversely staggered relation at the discharge end of the machine.

The separation of materials has been discussed and explained particularly with reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5. There is, of course, no inherent limitation that would stand in the way of using for the separation of materials the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This applies particularly. to the separation of finely divided materials.

The separation of coal has been described to give an example. The invention may be found useful in the separation of other relatively finely divided or comminuted materials and substances.

Referring new again to the subject of mixing, blending and like operations, the apparatus so far described, i. e., the machine shown in Figs.

1 and 2, permits the handling of four material components. This by no means exhausts the possibilities of the invention. The apparatus may be constructed so as to permit the intermixture of any number of components within the most complex practical requirements. For example, the apparatus may provide for the treatment of a plurality of material components in stages, as schematically indicated in Fig. 6 and as briefiy described below.

A desired plurality of handling units, e, five units, numbered I-V, as shown in Fig. 6, maybe disposed at one end of a rectangular tank structure such, for example, as described in connection with Figs. 3-5, taking the place of the feedand injection device of the previously discussed embodiment. The handling units I, II and III," IV may also be placed outside of acircular tank structure and the handling unit V may be dis-. posed centrally of the tank as shown in Fig.1. Unit V discharges in either case intothe second passageway or streamcurrent chamber of the machine. Each of the units I-V may be constructed as described, for example, in connection with the feed and injection device of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Accordingly, eachof such mass through suitable pipes and valves to,

the next stage. I

In Fig. 6, the handling units I-V are interconnected in such a way as to intermix a plurality of material components in accordance with the formula wherein the Arabic numerals indicate the material components and the Roman numerals indicate the corresponding handling units. It will be seen that material components I, 2, 3 and 4 are injected into the unit I. To the product leaving the unit I is added material component 5 for treatment in unit II. The product from unit II is injected in divided streams into unit V. Material components 6, l, 8 and 9 are similarly injected for treatment in unit III and to the product leaving this unit is added material component I 0 for treatment in unit IV which discharges again in divided streams into unit V for final treatment therein.

Unit V discharges into the streamcurrent cham-.

ber indicated in Fig. 6 and in the above noted formula by SC. We have in this case series operation of units 1-11 and III--IV, respectively, and parallel operation of units I and III each for the treatment of four material components, and units II and IV for treatment of the products from units I and III plus material components added to each. Both units II and IV are connected in series with the final treatment unit V into which they discharge in divided streams.

The division and subdivision of the material streams passing into the various units is indicated in Fig. 6, but is neglected in Formula A. For the sake of completeness, such division and subdivision may for this particular case be represented by the Formula A1, noted below, which approaches more accurately the conditions illustrated in Fig. 6:

initial material components I, 2+4, 3 and 6, 1+9,

8 are fed into the handling units I and III, respectively, in divided streams, as is also apparent from Fig. 6. The products P1 and P111 coming from the units I and III, respectively, are again divided each into three fractions Fa, Fb, Fe, and these fractions are separately fed into and passed through the units II and IV, respectively. Material component 5 is added to fraction F?) of the product P1: coming from unit I, and material component Ill is added to fraction Fb of the product Pm coming from unit III. The products P11 and Piv coming from units II andIV are united, and the resulting product Pn-I-Prv is again subdivided into fractions Fa, Fb, F0 for passage through the handling unit V. The product Pv from this unit is discharged into the streamcurrent chamber SC.

The further subdivision of the material streams within each handling unit, that is to say, the ejection of two streams in the form of a plurality of lets for turbulent intermixture with the third stream in each unit, is omitted in Formula A1 because symbols representing such subdivision would render the formula unduly complicated. If it is assumed, for example, that the valves in and-era nection of handling units I, II, 'V and'III, IV,'V,

respectively, as shown in Fig. 6 and as symbolized in Formulae A and A1, therefore furnishes a rational breakdown or subdivision of the-material components in three stages of two hundred subdivisions each.

Additional examples of interconnecting and operating the handling units will be briefly discussed below, merely by reference to simplified formulae along the lines of Formula A. It is understood, however, that each formula is to be read as if it contained symbols for the division and subdivision of the material streams such as indicated in Formula A1, and in addition thereto symbols for the further subdivision which occurs within each handling unit to obtain the turbulent intermixture of the separate material streams *or fractions flowing therethrough.

The next case to be considered, in the light of the above remarks, is concerned with treating a plurality of material components in a straight series connection of the various handling units I-V, with material components added at each stage according to the formula wherein the Arabic numerals again indicate thematerial components and the Roman numerals indicate the treating or handling units. .It will be-seen that in such embodiment material components I, 2, 3 and 4 are treated in unit I. which discharges in divided streams to the second stage II, to which is added material component 5. To the product from unit II is added material component 6 for treatment in unit III. To the prodnot from unit III is added material component I for treatment in unit IV. To the product from unit IV is added material component 8 for final treatment in unit V, which discharges into the streamcurrent chamber SC.

A further possibility is presented by interconnecting the available mixing or treating units; e. g., units I-V in series connection so that treatment in stages is obtained, and'adding at each of the first four stages a plurality of, say, four material components according to the formula 0 1+2+a+4- I- +5+c+7+s n Materials difiicult to blend or mix may be treated by interconnecting mixing units so that fractions .of products leaving the successive units or stages may be re-circulated, for example, according 'to the formula wherein it is assumed that three material components I, 2 and 3 are to be handled. Thesecomponents are treatedfirst in unit I. A fraction of the-product leaving unit I, indicated in theabove formula by Fire. is injected in divided streams for treatment in unit II; a fraction of the product leaving unit II, indicated by Fin, is injected in divided streams for treatment in unit III; a fraction of the product leaving unit III, indicated at FIIIa, is conducted in divided streams to unit IV for treatment therein; a fraction "Fix/'3 is directed in divided streams for final treatment in unit V. UnitV then discharges into the streamcurrent chamber SC. Fractions FIb-FIVh of the products leaving units I-IV, respectively, are re-circulated through the respective units, as indicated in Formula D.

Mate-rials difficult to blend may also be treated in'accordance with the formula wherein the three components I, 2 and 3 are injected in divided streams for treatment in unit I. The product leaving unit I is divided into three fractions-Fm, Fit, FIcWhiCh are directed for treatment, each in divided streams, to the units II, III and, IV, respectively. These latter units discharge in common, but in divided streams, into thefinal treatment unit V. We have thus a series connection of units I, II, V with units III and IV operatingin parallel with unit II.

'One more case may be cited in order to indicate the. adaptability and flexibility of the inventionin the. intermixing and blending of materials. Againit may be assumed that three material components, which are difficult to mix, are to be treated. This may be, done according to theiiormula wherein the three material components are first conductedinto unit I for treatment therein. The product leaving unit I. is again divided into fractionsFrs, FIb, and Fm, as in case E for treatment, respectively, in the units II, III, IV. The product coming from these units is, however, again divided .into fractions FIIa, FIIIa, FIVa, for final treatment in unit V, while fractions FIIb, Emu. and 'F1vb.are ice-circulated through the units IQjII, III, respectively. A fraction Fm of the prodnot coming from unit I maylikewise be recirculated through thisunit.

It-is understood, of course, that suitable pipes, valves, and pumps, as required, are provided for obtaining theinterconnection of the units, as described. Likewise, if pressure and temperature controls .arerequired, such controls may be provided wherever needed. In the event that the units are operated with different pressures, suitable means .such as. check valves are provided in the corresponding interconnecting pipes and conduits.

"The above description of the possibilities of the embodiment, Fig. 6, is rendered merely for the purpose of, giving examples of operation. These examples show typical cases but could easily be multiplied. .The number of mixing units may be varied vandtheir operative use may be varied. For example, five units may beprovided, but only three units may be used in any one example described above.

It will be appreciated that the approach as indicated in the various formulae permits complete supervision of complex mixing, blending, homogenizing, etc., processes and reproduction of such-processes with reasonable certainty of ob-' taining identical results. Guesswork is largely eliminated. The invention thus provides means for-the application of rational thought and procedure throughout the planning, execution and repetition or reproduction of such processes.

and selectively directing .amounts for re -circulation through said materialsupply conduits and/or through said pas- -sageway and/=01 for dischargefrom the tank.

5. Hydraulic material The apparatus may be furnished in any desired size and for satisfying any, even the most exacting and most complex requirements. Materials may be intermixed or blended in a single pass or by turnover circulation of fractions of the material body in the streamcurrent chamber or of the entire contents of the chamber. The homogeneity of the final product in the streamcurrent chamber is maintained by controlled hydraulic displacement, as a by-product of the withdrawal of material. The apparatus dis-closed herein, e. g., in Fig. 2, will be found suitable, in many cases, to perform the work heretofore performed by apparatus of the colloid-mill type.

It may be mentioned, in conclusion, that the adaptability and flexibility of the invention with regard to structural expressions removes limitations formerly imposed on the ingenuity of the designer. This holds true so far as use of materials is concerned as well as to physical features, shape of the structure and placement in any iven environment.

Changes may be made within the scope and 3 spirit of the following claims in which is defined what is believed to be new and desired to have protected by Letters Patent of the United States.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for handling materials comprising a tank, means forming two separate materialsu-pply conduits extending into said tank and defining an open-ended passageway which is dis- "posed between the conduits and substantially of the same length as the conduits, the walls of said conduits being provided with ports which communicate with said passageway, means for feed- 1 ing material into said passageway for unimpeded discharge directly into said tank, and means for feeding material into said material-supply conduits for injection through said ports into said passageway,

2. The structure and combination defined in claim 1, together with valve means for controlling the injection of material from said materials'up-ply conduits through said ports into said passageway.

3. The structure and combination defined in claim 1, wherein the ports in the walls of said materiabsupply conduits are inclined so as to inject the material therefrom into said passageway at an acute angle and tangentially in oppos-irial from a plurality of predetermined levels of the fluid body of material formed in said tank such withdrawn handling apparatus comprising a tank having an inlet for down- Wardly feeding fluid material thereinto, means forming in said tank an inner chamber for receiving material from said inlet, means on the outside of said inner chamber forming a plurality ing vertical level thereof for draining fluid material therefrom, valve means for each manifold to control the amount of material to be drained therethrough, means forming a compartment at the top of said chamber which communicates with the fluidbody therein, means for selectively '22 withdrawing adjusted amounts of fluid material from said chamber through said manifolds, and means for directing withdrawn amounts of material selectively for i e-circulation through said inlet and/or for re-injection through said compartment and/or for discharge.

6. A device for intermixing materials comprising a plurality of coaxial tubes forming a central axially extending material-supply conduit and an annular coaxial material-supply conduit surrounding said centrally'axially extending conduit and defining therewith an annular open-ended passageway which separates said conduits in radial direction, means for selectively feeding material separately into said materialsupply conduits and into said passageway, respectively, and ports dis-posed in the walls of the tubes forming said material-supply conduits for directing the material fed thereinto generally radially into said passageway to form a plurality of generally radially directed jets for collision with the material fed into and flowing through said passageway.

7. The structure and combination defined in claim 6, together with valve means for adjusting said ports to determine the intensity of said jets.

8. The structure and combination defined in claim 6, together with coaxial valve tubes for coaction with the walls of the tubes forming said material-supply conduits, ports in said last named coaxial valve tubes for coaction with the ports in the walls of said conduits, means for operating said valve tubes for the purpose of adjusting the outflow of material from the ports in said conduits into said passageway, means for journalling said valve tubes, and means for centering and for supporting all of said tubes.

9. A device for intermixing fiuid materials comprising a pair of coaxial radially spaced movable tubes forming an annular axially extending passageway, ports in said tubes, means for injecting material through said ports for intermixture within said passageway, and means for moving said tubes to control the injection of material through the ports thereof.

10. In a material-handling apparatus, means forming a first vertically extending chamber for receiving fluid material for down-flow therein, means forming a second vertically extending chamber, means fortransferring material from selected levels of said first chamber into said second chamber; and means forming an upwardly inclined passageway for receiving material from either or both of said chambers for upflow therein.

11. A material-handling apparatus comprising means forming a vertically disposed downwardly tapering inlet for receiving a fluid material for down-flow therein, means extending from the bottom of said inlet and forming an upwardly inclined upwardly uniformly widening passageway, and valve means at the juncture of said inlet and said passagewa for transferring fluid material from said inlet into said passageway for upflow therein.

12. A material-handling apparatus comprising means forming a vertically disposed downwardly taperin inlet for receiving fluid material for down-flow therein, means extending from the bottom of said inlet and forming an upwardly inclined upwardly uniformly widening passageway, valve means disposed at the juncture of said inlet and said passageway for transferring material from said inlet into said passageway for upflow therein, and means for injecting fluid into said inclined passageway for intermixture with the material flowing therethrough.

13. Apparatus for handling fluid materials comprising means forming a verticall extending inlet for receiving fluid material for down flow therein and outflow therefrom at the bottom thereof, means forming a. chamber having a floor which connects with portions of said inlet at the bottom thereof and which extends therefrom upwardly and laterally outwardly, for rei. ceiving material from said inlet for upflow therein, and baille means disposed in said chamber transversely above the floor thereof and vertically spaced therefrom for controlling the upward and laterally outward flow of material therethrough.

14. The structure and combination defined in claim 13, wherein said bafile means is a platelike member disposed above said floor and extending substantially in parallel therewith for a major portion of the length thereof.

15. The structure and combination defined in 'claim 13 together with means for adjusting the angular position of said bafile means relative to the plane of said floor.

16. A device for intermixing liquid materials comprising means forming a plurality of confined elongated material-receiving passageway, means for directing liquid material into each of said conduits for ejection therefrom through said ports into said passageway, and

means forming a chamber for receiving the liquid material which issues from the open end of said passageway.

17. A device for intermixing liquid materials comprising tubular means defining a central axially extending inner chamber, tubular means disposed in radially spaced relationship with respect to the tubular means defining said inner chamber and forming therewith an annular intermediate chamber which extends coaxial with and surrounds said inner chamber, means disposed in radially spaced relationship with respect to the tubular means defining said intermediate chamber and forming an outer chamber which extends in parallel with said intermediate chamber substantially throughout the length thereof, and ports in the walls of said tubular means for establishing hydraulic communication between said chambers.

18. In apparatus for handling materials, means forming two separate material supply conduits and defining a passageway which is disposed between said conduits and substantially of the same len th as the conduits, there being ports in the walls of said conduits which communicate with said passageway along spaced intervals thereof, means for injecting .material into one of said conduits at one end thereof for discharge into said passageway through the ports in the walls thereof, and means for injecting material into the other conduit at the opposite end thereof for discharge into said passageway through the ports in the wall of such other conduit.

19. Apparatus for handling fluid materials comprising a tank, means forming a flow-distributing wall disposed within the tank which extends generally upwardly and laterally outwardly and forms an inner chamber therein, an inlet extending into said tank for downwardly feeding material into said inner chamber to form 'a fluid body therein, said flow-distributin wall being provided with vertically superposed outlets for draining material from a plurality of levels of the fluid body contained in said inner chamber, means including the outer tank wall forming a plurality of discharge chambers, one for receiving fluid material from each level of said fluid body through the corresponding outlets in said flow-distributing 'wall, and means for adjustably controlling the amount of fluid material which is to be discharged from each of said discharge chambers.

20. Apparatus for handling materials comprising a tank, means forming in said tank a generally upwardly and laterally outwardly ex tending flow-distributing wall which defines an inner chamber therein, an inlet for downwardly feeding material into said inner chamber to form a fluid body therein, said flow-distributing wall being provided with outlets disposed at vertically spaced levels for draining material from said inner chamber, means including the outer tank wall forming a plurality of discharge chambersone for receiving fluid material from each level of said fluid body through the corresponding outlets in said flow-distributing wall, and means for adjustably controlling the amount of fluid material material which is to be discharged from each of said discharge chambers to regulate the flow of material from said outlets in said flow-distributing wall for the purpose of controlling the upwardly and laterally outwardly directed hydraulic displacement of the fluid body in said inner chamber.

21. Apparatus for handling materials comprising a unitary tank, means forming in said tank an upwardly and laterally outwardly extending flow-distributing wall defining therein an inner chamber, means forming an inlet extending into said tank for downwardly feeding material into said inner chamber to form a fluid body therein,. said flow-distributing wall being provided with vertically superposed outlets for draining material from a plurality of levels of the fluid body contained in said inner chamber, the outer tank wall forming with said flow-distributing wall an outer chamber, means in said outer chamber forming a plurality of vertically superposed compartments, one for receiving material to be drained from each of said levels, and means associated with each compartment for controlling the passage of material therethrough to regulate the flow of material from said outlets in said flow-distributing wall for the purpose of controlling the upwardly and laterally outwardly directed hydraulic displacement of the fluid body in said inner chamber.

22. Hydraulic material handling apparatus comprising a tank forming a flow-distributing wall which extends from the bottom upwardly and generally laterally outwardly forming the floor of an inner tank chamber, inlet means extending into said inner chamber for downwardly feeding fluid material thereinto to form a fluid body therein, said flow-distributing wall being provided with vertically spaced outlet areas for draining material from a plurality of corresponding levels of said fluid body, means associated with said flow-distributing wall on the outside thereof and forming a plurality of vertically superposed discharge chambers one for each outlet area, each discharge chamber communicating hydraulically with said fluid body at the corresponding vertical level thereof, and means associated with each discharge chamber for controlling the amount of fluid material to be dis-l charged therethrough to regulate the upwardly and laterally outwardly directed hydraulic displacement of said fluid body.

23. A material handling device comprising a pair of coaxiall arranged tubes forming an elongated axially extending annular passageway, means for injecting fluid material at one end of said passageway for passage therethrough, means forming a chamber for receiving the material stream from the other end of said annular passageway, ports formed in each of said tubes along axially spaced intervals thereof, and means associated with said tubes for injecting fluid material generally radially through the ports thereof for intermixture with the material stream conveyed through said passageway.

24. Apparatus for mixing or blending a plurality of fluid materials comprising a plurality of coaxial disposed tubular means forming an axially extending inner fluid receiving chamber and an annular outer fluid-receiving chamber surrounding said in'ner chamber and radially spaced therefrom, ports formed in the wall of said inner chamber and ports formed in the inner wall of said outer chamber, and means for directing fluids separately into each of said chambers for discharge therefrom through said ports into radial space between said chambers for turbulent intermixture therein.

25. Apparatus for mixing or blending a plurality of fluid materials comprising means forming a mixing chamber, means associated with the walls of said mixing chamber forming a plurality f fluid-receiving chambers which extend substantially in parallel with said mixing chamber, said fluid-receiving chambers being hydraulically in communication with said mixing chamber through ports formed in the walls of said chambers, means for directing fluid materials separately into each of said fluid-receiving chambers for discharge therefrom through said ports into said mixing chamber for turbulent intermixture therein, means forming a collecting chamber for receiving the intermixed product from said mixing chamber to form a fluid body thereof, and means associated with said collecting chamber for selectively withdrawing adjusted amounts of intermixed fluid material from selected levels of said fluid body and selectively directing such withdrawn amounts for discharge and/or for reinjection selectively into either of said fluid-receiving chambers and/or into said mixing chamber.

26. Apparatus for handling fluid material comprising a tank forming an upwardly and laterally outwardly sloping floor, means forming an inlet extending into said tank for feeding liquid thereinto to form a fluid body therein, means associated with said floor outside thereof forming a plurality of dis-charge chambers for withdrawing adjusted amounts of liquid from said fluid body at a plurality of vertically spaced levels thereof to cause hydraulic displacement in said fluid body which extends from said inlet generally laterally outwardly to and into said discharge chambers, means forming a plurality of ballle members vertically spaced from said floor and extending transversely through said fluid body for controlling the direction of said hydraulic displacement, and means for adjusting the angular positions of said baflle members relative to the plane of said floor,

27. A device for intermixing a plurality of liquids comprising a plurality of coaxially arranged members forming a plurality of elongated tubular chambers and an open-ended passage-.

way which extends in parallel with said chambers substantially throughout the length thereof, ports at said members communicatin with r compartment.

28. Apparatus for mixing or blending a plurality of fluid materials comprising means form-.

ing a mixing chamber, means associated with the wall of said mixing chamber forming a plu-.

prising wall means forming a first material-re ceiving chamber, wall means forming a second material-receivin chamber which is substantial-.

ly coextensive with said first chamber and forms a unitary and rigid structure therewith, wall means disposed adjacent to and contacting portions of the wall means of said first and said second material-receiving chambers forming an independent passageway which is common to said chambers and substantially coextensive therewithQcommunicating ports formed in the wall means of said material-receiving chambers and said passageway, means for independently and separately injecting fluid material components into each of said material-receiving chambers for outflow in divided streams through said ports into said passageway for intermixture therein, and means for removing the intermixed fluid product from said passageway.

30. The structure and combination defined in claim 29 together with means for separately injecting a fluid material component into said passageway for intermixing with the material components injected thereinto from said materialreceiving chambers through said ports.

31. Device for intermixing fluid materials comprising a pair of movable wall members defining the lateral limits of a passageway which is open atone end thereof, a stationary material-receiving chamber associated with each of said wall members and having a wall portion adjacent thereto, ports formed in the wall portion of each material-receiving chamber for coaction with ports formed in the associated wall member of said passageway, means for separately injecting fluid material components into said material-receiving chambers for lateral outflow through said ports into said passageway, mean for moving said movable wall members to adjust the ports therein relative to coacting ports in the respective wall portions of the associated stationary material-receiving chambers to regulate the latmesses;

eral outflow of saidfiuid': material components from said material-receivingchambers through said ports into 'said passageway for turbulent 'intermixture therein, and'means for removing the intermixed'product from the open end of said passageway.

32. The structure and combination defined in claim 31 together with means for separately injecting a fluid material component into saidpassageway for passage therethrough and intermixture therein with the material components injected thereinto through said ports.

33. Device for intermixing'fiuid materials comprising wall means forming two individual material-receiving chambers, means for securing said chambers in relatively stationary position'to form a, unitary structure, means associated with saidmaterial-receiving chambers forming an interi orly entirely unobstructed passageway which is open at one end and'constitutes a mixing chamber common to said material-receiving chambers, ports formed in a wall portionof each materialreceiving chamber communicating with said passageway and'mixing chamber, means for separately injecting fluid materialbomponents into said material-receiving chambersfor-outflow in divided stream through said ports into said common passageway and mixing'chamber, the axes of the ports formed in the wall portions of the respective material-receiving chambers being disposed at angles to-cause collision in said passageway and mixingchamberof the divided streams of material issuing respectively therefrom for intimate intermixture of'said'fiuidmaterial components, and means for'removing the intermixed product from the opengend of-said passageway and mixing chamber.

34. The structure and combination defined in claim- 33 together with-valve means formingpart of-- said passageway and mixing chamber, and

REFERENCES CITED The following references are, of record in the,

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 313,070 Gent Mar. 3, 1885 611,432 Katzenstein Sept. 27, 1898, 93 1,4141 Hitchcock Sept. 21, 1909 952,222 Towne, Mar. 15, 1910 994,679 Hills June, 6, 1911 1,588,588, Kleyn June 15, 1926 1,680,678 Halliburton Aug. 14, 1928 1,842,877 Mullerv et al. Jan. 26, 1932, 1,972,001 Witham et a1. Aug. 28, 1934 2,075,867 Sampel Apr. 6, 1937 2,178,539 Hill et al. Nov. 7, 1939,

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